DeFalco/Frenz Retrospective: Amazing Spider-Man #263


Writer: Tom DeFalco
Penciler: Ron Frenz

 Synopsis: Spider-Kid wants to be Spider-Man's new partner. 

Comments: Spider-Kid (Ollie Osnick) first appeared in Spectacular Spider-Man #72. I don't really need to post any pages from that comic since this page does a pretty good job of recapping that story here. He was created by Bill Mantlo and Ed Hannigan. In Comics Creators on Spider-Man, when Tom DeFalco interviewed Ron Frenz about their work, Frenz revealed that he was initially dubious about this story and felt DeFalco's Archie roots were starting to show, but in the end he said the story had a lot of heart. It is light fare for the 1980s and is more of an homage to the 1960s Superman stories. 


So does this gang idolize Ghost Rider based on their blazing skull jackets? It reminds me of the Jokerz on Batman Beyond. 



I like the name "Jane Lane." Lane...a DC reference! 



Due to the positive reception of the black costume after initial apprehension from the fans, it seems like the creative teams kept coming up with ways to get Spidey back in black. It used to confuse me how when I read some of these issues and I didn't know that it was a cloth costume instead of the symbiote. 


The Spider Signal! Another DC reference.  DeFalco and Frenz would use on again in Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #17



Ollie kind of reminds me of Johnny Quick's partner, Tubby Watts. Another DC reference! Spider-Man quotes General Anthony McAuliffe.  Ollie's body type doesn't fool Jane Lane. 






"The Spider-Kid Revenge Squad." A reference to the Superman Revenge Squad. 


A flashforward to Spider-Girl #59. In both cases, Harry and Peter were weeping in the hospital waiting room, making Peter and May, respectively, think something had gone wrong with the baby only to find it was tears of joy/relief. 



Spider-Man dropping by to say Ollie is his friend seems like something Superman would do. I couldn't find any Silver Age references, but in Superman Adventures #15, Superman does a similar thing for Bibbo Bibbowski. 







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